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Meet Some of Our Graduate Students Cynthia Arthur After my MBBS from Medical College, Trivandrum, India, I wanted to do state-of-the-art research in a place that was open to ideas and also gave individual attention. This led to my work on the immunological aspects of the demyelinating disease, Multiple Sclerosis, in Dr. Drew's lab. My horizons have been broadened and vision deepened by the graduate training in our department. It gives one solid basics and stimulates independent thinking and innovation. The serene beauty of 'The Natural State' and friendly folks make it an ideal setting. I am really enjoying unraveling some of the mysteries of neuroscience.
UAMS was my graduate school of choice because of the high intensity research that goes on here. I have seen first hand what a difference it makes to have faculty like ours that are supportive and that still get excited about every finding that comes from our work. I chose Dr. Garcia-Rill as my mentor and currently am investigating the development of REM sleep mechanisms in the brainstem. The labs in our department provide an enthusiastic work environment that promotes success. I cannot imagine myself going to school anywhere else and being as happy as I am now.
I am a fourth year graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Gwen V. Childs. Having completed my degree in medicine in MMC, Chennai, India, I was keen on pursuing my research interests in endocrinology. Hence I chose Dr. Childs' lab because it was one of the pioneering labs in the world working on the pituitary gland. Though I was lost initially as a researcher, I gained my footing with the help of my mentor, and faculty in the department who are very friendly and helpful. They are always open to discussion and brainstorming. I believe our department is very strong in fundamental academic training and molecular techniques as there are several faculty members who are experts in their respective fields. The environment is very conducive for any graduate student to gain expertise beyond that available in any individual lab. Incidentally, Little Rock is a beautiful place with its natural beauty, scenic views, warm and pleasant like the folks here!
In looking for a graduate program, I realized the immense need and importance of medical research for treatment of neurological disorders. This inspired me to search for a program that was not only strong in the biomedical sciences but also had excellent infrastructure facilities and research opportunities. Our Department emphasizes research, which for me was of primary importance. The faculty at UAMS has renowned neuroscientists that are very friendly and knowledgeable, and are sources of inspiration and guidance. Because my primary interest is treatment of neuro-immunological diseases, I joined the lab of Dr. Tammy Kielian. My mentor, Dr. Kielian, has provided a pleasant, methodical, and informative work environment conducive to learning and research. My research project is an analysis of glial immune interactions in an experimental brain abscess model. Our lab employs state-of-the-art techniques for dissecting immune pathways involved in the progression of brain abscess in order to devise better treatment possibilities for this acute and serious CNS disease. Our lab, in collaboration with Dr. John Houle and Dr. Paul Drew, is establishing a new facility that will focus on improving therapeutic treatments for neurotrauma and neuroinflammation. I am very much excited that this facility will provide the research infrastructure where I and other UAMS students may pursue the best possible biomedical research. Our graduate program has nurtured my interest in neuroimmunology. Being trained under the guidance of highly regarded neuroscientists at this prestigious research institution is an honor for me. I am confident our department's Ph.D. program will enable me to fulfill my academic ambitions and to contribute positively to society and science.
I first heard about UAMS in my Developmental Biology class back in India. We were discussing the latest scientific papers in the field and a paper from Angus MacNicol's lab regarding 3' UTRs and their role in mRNA translation caught the attention of the class. It was discussed at length and that is how I got to know about the department that I have now joined. I now work with Dr. Angus MacNicol on a project that involves two model systems: Xenopus oocytes and PC12 cells. Specifically, I am looking at the signal transduction pathways that control mRNA translation in PC12 cells in response to NGF, and the mechanisms that regulate it. Also, I am looking at regulation of mRNA translation in Xenopus oocytes and how it influences cell cycle progression.
Everyday I am grateful for the opportunities that have been made available to me at UAMS. I am a "nontraditional student" with a degree in both biology and the fine arts. I came to UAMS after working as a medical illustrator for two years. I wanted to pursue a doctorate degree in neuroanatomy to advance the field of medical and legal illustration in Little Rock. The faculty in the department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences embraced my diversity and continuously lend their support of my professional goals. It is a privilege to study and conduct research in an institute that so highly values excellence and diversity. Cindy Zhang
My current project is to evaluate the effect of liver x receptor agonists in the suppression of microglial activation hoping to further the understanding of Multiple Sclerosis pathophysiology and identify new anti-inflammatory therapy for patients. Since enrolling in the MD / PhD program, I feel having a strong background in neurobiology and immunology research will provide me with a greater breadth and depth of understanding of disease processes which I can later translate into clinical practice. |
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Cameron Good
Mary Iruthayanathan
Nirmal Phulwani
Taasin Srivastava
Tiffany Wallace
My experience in choosing a department for graduate studies was unusual. I was already enrolled in the medical program at the University of Arkansas and had decided during my first year of medical school to pursue a doctorate degree here as well. After taking medical school courses such as Gross Anatomy, Microanatomy, and Neuroscience, I knew the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences was a strong teaching department where extensive coursework is offered. In addition, after talking with students already enrolled in the various departments, I felt the most enthusiasm from students in the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences. The students of this department were highly motivated and strongly supported by the faculty.